The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : 36 resolutions passed in just five minutes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 01, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

36 resolutions passed in just five minutes

Staff Reporter

Noisy scenes in Alandur Municipality over AIADMK's demand

TAMBARAM: The Alandur Municipality councillors clashed with each other over the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members' demand that a resolution be passed to thank the State Government and the Chief Minister for distributing relief to flood affected residents.

When the council met on Tuesday, J. Baktavatchalam, AIADMK councillor and vice chairman, said the body should pass a resolution thanking the State Government, particularly, the Chief Minister, for distributing relief to the flood affected residents of the local body.

But the DMK councillors protested, stating that it was not necessary as most of the genuinely affected residents were yet to receive any form of relief. In fact, many residents in Mr. Baktavatchalam's ward (No. 41) did not receive the relief, they alleged.

At this juncture, R.S. Bharathi, Municipal Chairman, intervened and said there was no objection in thanking the Government or even the Chief Minister if all the flood affected residents received relief and asked the elected representatives to voice their grievances one by one.

However, AIADMK councillors insisted that the council thank the Government, resulting in noisy scenes and chaos for a few minutes, leading to accusations, charges and counter charges.

D. Yesudoss, DMK, Ward No. 28, rushed towards Mr. Bhaktavatchalam, taking strong exception to his remarks against the Chairman.

Mr. Bharathi announced that the meeting was over with all the 36 subjects in the agenda as `all passed.' The entire episode lasted for about five minutes.

Though Mr. Yesudoss and the vice-chairman patched up later and the problem was solved, a section of the councillors, especially women, regretted that they met only once a month to voice the grievances in their wards and that too was lost now. They said mosquito menace, distribution of water and disposal of garbage were pressing problems and they were unable to discuss them today.

A few months ago, the councillors of the AIADMK and the DMK had a heated debate when the vice-chairman circulated copies of letter to thank the State Government for proposing to lower the monthly sewer charges to be collected from residents.

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